Concrete retaining wall block

ABSTRACT

A retaining wall block which simulates natural stone blocks and which can be dry stacked to form a landscape retaining wall. The block has a generally flat back and substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces which extend substantially perpendicular to the back. The front of the block and sides of the block are preferably textured with an irregular pattern which simulates natural stone. The front of the block is sufficiently irregular as to not be perpendicular to the top and bottom or parallel to the back of the block. Sides of the block are not parallel to each other and may be textured to have an appearance consistent with the front of the block.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to concrete blocks and more particularly to concrete blocks which imitate natural rock and are suitable for dry stacking to construct retaining walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various configurations are used for forming concrete blocks used to construct retaining walls. In the simplest form, blocks are formed having either rectangular or square sides. These blocks may be stacked to form a retaining wall. Although the blocks may have textured surfaces to improve their appearance, they do not form an attractive retaining wall. Retaining wall blocks also are formed to interlock when stacked to increase the strength of the retaining wall. In some cases, blocks are formed with parallel top and bottom sides and parallel front and back sides with left and right sides angles relative to the front side so that the top and bottom sides having a trapezoidal shape. These blocks may be stacked to form a curved wall with a better appearance than a wall constructed from blocks having all sides square or rectangular. When the sides of the wall blocks are all either parallel or trapezoidal, only limited relief or texture is possible, since the texture does not extend from the face or front side onto the left and right sides for a substantial portion or all of the depth of the block. This causes the block to lose its natural appearance.

When a retaining wall is formed from natural stone or with cast blocks having irregular surfaces simulating natural stone blocks, it sometimes has been necessary to use mortar between the blocks to increase the strength of the wall and to prevent large gaps between adjacent blocks which would allow retained soil to migrate through the face of the wall. This in turn would allow soil settlement behind the wall.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to cast concrete retaining wall blocks which simulate natural stone blocks. The blocks may be dry stacked, without mortar, to form a retaining wall. The blocks have substantially parallel top and bottom sides which allow the blocks to form a stable wall when stacked. The top side or both the top and bottom sides may have some texture to imitate the irregular texture of natural stone blocks. The top and bottom sides extend generally perpendicular to a back or rear side of the block. Front, left and right sides are irregular, having patterns which simulate natural stone blocks. These sides may be deeply grooved. The front side is not parallel to the rear side and is not perpendicular to the top and bottom sides of the block. The left and right sides of the block are not perpendicular to either the front or the rear side of the block. This allows the concrete block to have a more natural rock appearance.

Various objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view as seen from the upper front of a retaining wall block according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view as seen from the upper left side of the retaining wall block of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view as seen from the upper rear of the retaining wall block of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view as seen from the upper left rear corner of a second embodiment of a retaining wall block according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view as seen from the upper front left of a third embodiment of a retaining wall block according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 a cast concrete retaining wall block 10 is shown according to a first embodiment of the invention. As used herein, the term “retaining wall block” refers to large cast concrete blocks which are stacked to form landscape retaining walls. Typically, the concrete retaining wall blocks weigh from about 200 pounds to 2,000 pounds or more. The blocks 10 are cast from concrete and may have, for example, a maximum width of from about 2 feet to over 6 feet, a height of from about 6 inches to 2 feet or more, and a depth of from about 12 inches to 3 feet or more.

The block 10 is cast with a substantially flat back side 11 which is best seen in FIG. 3. The block 10 is cast in a form (not shown) having an open top. The back or rear side 11 is formed by an exposed surface of the concrete poured into the form and will have imperfections which are typically found in an unfinished concrete surface. A bent rod may be embedded in the concrete to form a loop 12 which extends from the rear side 11 for lifting the block 10, in a known manner. The loop 12 also may be used to anchor the wall blocks to the soil behind a wall constructed from the blocks 10.

The block 10 has a top 13 and a bottom 14 which extend substantially parallel to each other and extend substantially perpendicular to the rear side 11. The block 10 further has a front side 15 which is visible when the block 10 is stacked with other blocks to form a retaining wall. The front side 15 is formed to be highly irregular, simulating natural stone. The front side 15 may, for example, have the appearance of layers which appear in shale and some other stone. The front side is sufficiently irregular that it is not be perpendicular to the top 13 or to the bottom 14. The block 10 has a left side 16 and a right side 17. The sides 16 and 17 may be distinct, or the front side 15 may have an irregular curve extending to the rear side 11 in place of one or both of the sides 16 and 17. To the extent that there are left and right sides 16 and 17, they are irregular and not parallel to each other and may have different depths so as to simulate irregular surfaces of natural stone blocks. Since the sides 16 and 17 are irregular, they will not be flat surfaces which extend perpendicular to the top 13 and bottom 14. The side surfaces 16 and 17 may join the rear side 17 at different angles. Preferably, the majority of each side surface 16 and 17 is not perpendicular to either the top or the bottom surfaces 13 and 14. However, the left and right sides 16 and 17 may be perpendicular to the top 13 and the bottom 14 where they join the rear 11.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another block 20 constructed in accordance with the invention. The block 20 has a generally flat rear surface 21 and generally flat top and bottom surfaces 22 and 23 which are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the rear surface 21. Exposed front surface and side surfaces 24 of the block 20 are again highly irregular, simulating the irregularities in a natural stone block.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another block 25 constructed in accordance with the invention. The block 25 has a generally flat rear surface 26 and generally flat top and bottom surfaces 27 and 28 which are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the rear surface 26. Exposed front and side surfaces 29 of the block 25 are highly irregular, simulating the irregularities in a natural stone block.

Since the blocks 10, 20 and 25 are irregular and simulate natural stone, left and right side surfaces of the blocks may have different depths from the back surface. One or both of the side surfaces may not be a distinct surface when an irregularly shaped front surface is formed to extend to or substantially to the rear surface of the block. Preferably, the natural stone pattern on the front of the blocks extends over at least a portion of the distance from the front surface to the back surface of the block so that all visible portions of the side surfaces are consistent with the appearance of the front surface of the block.

An advantage of the blocks 10, 20 and 25 is that they may be dry stacked without mortar to form a retaining wall for landscaping which has a very pleasing appearance. The substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces of the blocks facilitate stacking. Prior art concrete blocks suitable for dry stacking to form retaining walls either did not simulate natural stone other than on the distinct face of the blocks, or have been provided with smooth sides which are perpendicular to the top and bottom of the blocks so that the sides of adjacent blocks will fit closely together. Prior art blocks also have had a trapezoidal shape in which the sides are not textured and are distinct from the face. The present blocks allow for a highly natural appearance in a dry stackable retaining wall.

It will be appreciated that various modifications and changes may be made to the above described preferred embodiment of concrete retaining wall block without departing from the scope of the following claims. 

1. A concrete retaining wall block having a generally flat back surface, a top surface extending substantially perpendicular to said back surface, a bottom surface extending substantially perpendicular to said back surface and substantially parallel to said top surface, a front surface which is exposed when said block is stacked with other blocks to form a retaining wall, wherein said front surface is textured with a pattern to simulate natural stone wherein said pattern is sufficiently irregular that said front surface is not perpendicular to said top and bottom surfaces and is not parallel to said back surface, and at least one side surface area extending from said front surface towards said back surface which is not distinct in appearance from said front surface.
 2. A concrete retaining wall block, as set forth in claim 1, and wherein said at least one surface area comprises a left side surface extending between said front surface and said back surface, and a right side surface extending between said front surface and said back surface, and wherein said left and right side surfaces are not parallel.
 3. A concrete retaining wall block, as set forth in claim 2, and wherein the pattern on said front surface extends at least partially from said front surface onto each of said side surfaces.
 4. A concrete retaining wall block, as set forth in claim 3, and wherein said left side surface and said right side surface have different depths.
 5. A concrete retaining wall block, as set forth in claim 2, and wherein said left and right side surfaces meet said back surface at different angles.
 6. A concrete retaining wall block, as set forth in claim 5, and wherein said left and right side surfaces are perpendicular to said top and bottom surfaces only where said left and right side surfaces meet said back surface.
 7. A concrete retaining wall block, as set forth in claim 1, and wherein said at least one side surface area comprises a side surface extending between said front surface and said back surface, wherein said side surface is not perpendicular to said back surface.
 8. A concrete retaining wall block, as set forth in claim 7, and wherein said at least one side surface comprises two side surfaces extending between said front surface and said back surface, wherein said two side surfaces are not perpendicular to said back surface.
 9. A concrete retaining wall block, as set forth in claim 8, and wherein said two side surfaces are perpendicular to said top and bottom surfaces only where said side surfaces meet said back surface.
 10. A concrete retaining wall block, as set forth in claim 7, and wherein said side surface is perpendicular to said top and bottom surfaces only where said side surface meets said back surface.
 11. A concrete retaining wall block, as set forth in claim 1, and wherein at least portions of said top and bottom surfaces which are visible when a plurality of said retaining wall blocks are stacked are textured with a pattern to simulate natural stone consistent with said front surface. 